Novel gene encoding brain specific membrane protein

ABSTRACT

A novel gene apparently encoding a transmembrane glycoprotein has been successfully isolated by constructing a cDNA library of 4 kb or above in size from mRNA expressed in human adult brain and analyzing the structures of the cDNAs contained within said library by the shotgun method. The novel gene shows brain-specific expression and the protein encoded by said gene has a typical PDZ binding motif.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/831,846, filed on May 15, 2001, which was the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP99/06449, filed on Nov. 18, 1999, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 10/331727, filed on Nov. 20, 1998, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel membrane protein specifically expressed in the brain, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein, and methods of preparing and using same.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of cells present in the nerve system form a nerve network that supports high-level brain functions. Elucidation of mechanisms of differentiation, development and apoptosis of the nerve system is an important research subject, to deepen our understanding of functions of nerve system or critical mechanisms of nerve-related disorders. Thus, researches in this field have been energetically pursued.

Recently, a number of novel signal transducer molecules, including the PDZ protein, have been discovered one after another, as indicated by reports on the complex formation of receptors or ion channel molecules with the PDZ proteins such as PSD95/SAP90 in the post-synapse density (PSD)of postsynaptic membrane to perform the signal transduction (Science 269, 1737-1740 (1995), Nature 378, 85-88 (1995), Neuron 17, 103-113 (1996), Neuron 17, 255-265 (1996), J. Neurosci. 16, 2157-2163 (1996), Nature 386, 223, 239 (1997), TIBS 21, 455-458 (1996), J. Yanagisawa et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 7172).

PDZ proteins are thought to serve as modular proteins in the formation of a protein complex, which transmits signals from outside to inside of cells and is as compact as possible. Thus, such proteins play an important role in the complex signal transduction of the nerve system.

On the other hand, glycoproteins present on the cell membrane are expected to function as the receptor to receive such external signals. Thus, there has been a high demand for the isolation and analysis of these membrane proteins for elucidating signal transduction mechanisms in the brain.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a novel membrane protein which is specifically expressed in the brain, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein, and a method for manufacturing these compounds as well as the use thereof.

Present inventors have constructed a cDNA library of 4 kb or above in size from mRNA expressed in the human adult brain, and analyzed the structures of cDNAs contained in the library by the shotgun method, resulting in the successful isolation of a novel gene designated as “hh00149”.

A protein encoded by the gene had a signal sequence comprising 20 amino acids, a hydrophobic amino acid region which is thought to be a transmembrane domain, and further six binding sites for asparagine-bound sugar chain, indicating that this protein is one of transmembrane glycoproteins.

Northern blot analysis indicated that the hh00149 gene showed brain-specific expression. Furthermore, the hh00149 protein was found to have a typical PDZ protein-binding motif comprising “serine-threonine-valine” at its carboxyl end, indicating the presence of a PDZ protein as its binding protein. A variety of proteins have been hitherto known to bind to the PDZ protein, including the ion channel, glutamate receptor, tumorigenic transformation-related gene product, cell adhesion molecule, membrane-associated guanylate kinase, differentiation suppressing protein, etc. (Kornau, H. -C. et al. (1995) Science 269, 1737-1740; Kim, E. et al. (1995) Nature 378, 85-88, Matsumine et al. (1996) Science 272, 1020-1023, Axelrod, J. D., et al. (1996) Science 271, 1826-1832, J. Yanagisawa et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272, 71-67-7172 (1997) H. Dong et al. (1997) Nature 386, 279-284), participating in various signal transduction pathways.

From such tissue-specific expression of its gene and its structural characteristics, the hh00149 protein has been suggested to function as a signal transducer molecule from the outside to the inside of nerve cells.

This invention relates to a novel membrane protein specifically expressed in the brain, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein, and methods of preparing and using these compounds. More specifically, the invention provides the following:

-   -   (1): a DNA selected from the group consisting of the         following (a) through (e):         -   (a) a DNA encoding a protein comprising the amino acid             sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2;         -   (b) a DNA comprising the coding region of the base sequence             set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;         -   (c) a DNA encoding a protein comprising the amino acid             sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, which is modified by             deletion and/or addition of one or more amino acid residues,             and/or substitution with other amino acids, and functionally             equivalent to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence             set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2;         -   (d) a DNA hybridizing to the DNA comprising the base             sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and encoding a protein             functionally equivalent to the protein comprising the amino             acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; and         -   (e) a DNA comprising a DNA according to any of (a)             through (d) and a DNA encoding other peptide or polypeptide,             encoding a fusion protein;     -   (2) a vector inserted with the DNA according to (1);     -   (3) a transformant carrying the DNA according to (1) or the         vector according to (2);     -   (4) a protein encoded by the DNA according to (1);     -   (5) a method for producing the protein according to (4), said         method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant         according to (3) and recovering the expressed protein from said         transformant or the culture supernatant thereof;     -   (6) an antibody binding to the protein according to (4);     -   (7) a method of screening for a compound which binds to the         protein according to (4), said method comprising the steps of:         -   (a) bringing the protein according to (4) into contact with             a sample to be tested, and         -   (b) selecting a compound having the activity to bind to the             protein according to (4);     -   (8) a method for detecting or measuring the protein according         to (4) said method comprising the steps of bringing the antibody         according to (6) into contact with a test sample that putatively         contains the protein according to (4), and detecting or         measuring the formation of an immune complex of said antibody         with said protein; and     -   (9) a polynucleotide hybridizing to the DNA comprising the base         sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complementary strand         thereof and having a chain length of at least 15 bases.

The base sequence of the hh00149 cDNA isolated by the present inventors is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and amino acid sequence of the hh00149 protein encoded by the cDNA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.

The hh00149 protein of this invention has a region of sequential hydrophobic amino acids, thought to be a signal sequence, in the amino terminal 20 amino acid residues, and another hydrophobic region, which is presumed to be a transmembrane domain, located about ⅔ from the amino terminal (cf. Example 6, FIG. 3), indicating that this protein is present as a transmembrane type protein on the cell membrane. In addition, the transcriptional product of the hh00149 gene has been brain-specifically detected (cf. Example 5, FIG. 2). These facts suggest that the hh00149 protein functions especially in the brain as a signal transducer molecule to transduce a signal from the outside to the inside of cells. Therefore, the hh00149 protein can be applied to the screening of novel signal transmitters, including nerve peptides, with an expectation of its utilization in the development of remedies and diagnostics for nerve-related disorders.

The present invention also includes proteins functionally equivalent to the above-described hh00149 protein. In this invention, the term “functionally equivalent” refers to those proteins having a biological activity equivalent to the hh00149 protein. It has been demonstrated, from the analysis of binding protein using the two-hybrid system, that the hh00149 protein binds to the “149Y2H#151” protein (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-331701). Therefore, the biological activity of the hh00149 protein includes its binding activity to the “149Y2H#151” protein. In addition, a binding sequence to the PDZ protein has been detected in the hh00149 protein, suggesting the presence of PDZ proteins capable of binding to the hh00149 protein. Therefore, the biological activity of the hh00149 protein also includes its binding activity to PDZ proteins. Binding activity between proteins can be detected using, for example, the following analytical methods, such as the immunoprecipitation method and two-hybrid system of yeast.

A method for inducing mutation into the amino acid sequence of protein can be used as the method for obtaining proteins functionally equivalent to the hh00149 protein. For example, a predetermined mutation can be induced into the amino acid sequence of a protein by the method of site-specific mutagenesis, using synthetic oligonucleotide primers (Kramer, W. and Fritz, H. J. Methods. in Enzymol. (1987)154, 350-367). Mutation in the amino acid sequence can also be induced using the site-specific mutagenesis system by PCR (GIBCO-BRL). It is possible, by these methods, to obtain proteins having the-amino acid sequence of the hh00149 protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) which is modified by deletion or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues and/or substitution with other amino acid residues, without affecting its biological activity, and functionally equivalent to the hh00149 protein. Mutation of amino acids in proteins can also occur spontaneously. Such proteins, the amino acid sequence of which are artificially or spontaneously altered, are also included in the proteins of this invention.

Specifically, proteins functionally equivalent to the hh00149 protein are exemplified by those comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 from which one or more, preferably from two to thirty, more preferably from two to ten amino acid residues are deleted, or to which one or more, preferably from two to thirty, more preferably from two to ten amino acid residues are added, or in which one or more, preferably from two to thirty, more preferably from two to ten amino acid residues are substituted with other amino acids.

It is known that a protein having an amino acid sequence which is modified by deletion or addition of one or a plurality of amino acid residues and/or substitution of one or a plurality of amino acid residues with other amino acids can still retain its original biological activity (Mark, D. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984)81, 5662-5666, Zoller, M. J. & Smith, M. Nucleic Acids Research (1982)10, 6487-6500, Wang, A. et al., Science 224, 1431-1433, and Dalbadie-McFarland, G. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1982) 79, 6409-6413).

A protein with one or a plurality of amino acid residues deleted is exemplified by, for example, the hh00149 protein in the form deprived of its signal peptide. On the other hand, a protein with one or a plurality of amino acid residues added is exemplified by, for example, a fusion protein containing the hh00149 protein. A fusion protein in this case is a protein consisting of the hh00149 protein fused to other peptide or protein, and is included in this invention. A fusion protein can be prepared using known techniques, by ligating the DNA encoding the hh00149 protein to another DNA encoding other peptide or protein so as to be in the same reading frame, transferring the chimeric DNA to an expression vector followed by expressing it in host cells. There is no particular limitation in the type of other peptides or proteins used for the fusion to the protein of this invention.

For example, known peptides used for fusion include FLAG (Hopp, T. P. et al., BioTechnology (1988)6, 1204-1210), 6×His comprising six histidine (His) residues, 10×His, influenza hemagglutinin (HA), human c-myc fragment, VSV-GP fragment, p18HIV fragment, T7-tag, HSV-tag, E-tag, SV40T antigen fragment, lck tag, α-tubulin fragment, B-tag, protein C-fragment, etc. Proteins to be used include, for example, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), influenza hemagglutinin (HA), immunoglobulin constant region, β-galactosidase, MBP (maltose-binding protein), etc.

The protein of this invention includes a protein which is encoded by a DNA hybridizing under stringent conditions to the DNA consisting of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and functionally equivalent to the hh00149 protein. Stringent hybridization conditions can be appropriately selected by those skilled in the art, and are exemplified by, for example, low stringent conditions. Low stringent conditions are, for example, at 42° C. in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS, and preferably at 50° C. in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. More preferably, high stringent conditions may be selected, which are, for example, at 65° C. in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. Under these conditions, as the hybridization temperature is elevated, DNA with a higher homology can be obtained.

Proteins which are functionally equivalent to the hh00149 protein, and are homologous to the protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) are also included in this invention. Herein, a “homologous protein” is one that has at least 70% or more, preferably at least 80% or more, more preferably at least 90% or more, and further more preferably at least 95% or more of amino acid sequence identity to that set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. Sequence homology of proteins can be determined according to algorithm described in a literature (Wilbur, W. J. and Lipman, D. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1983)80, 726-730).

The protein of this invention may be prepared by incorporating the DNA thus obtained into an expression vector, so as to be expressible under the regulation of the expression-regulating region, for example, enhancer/promoter. Then, host cells are transformed with this expression vector to express the protein.

More specifically, the process may be performed as follows. When mammalian cells are used, a commonly used useful promoter/enhancer, a DNA encoding the protein of this invention, a DNA to which the poly A signal is functionally linked downstream of the 3′-terminal of the above-described DNA or a vector containing these elements is constructed. A promoter/enhancer is exemplified by, for example, the human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter/enhancer.

In addition, other promoter/enhancer usable for protein expression includes the viral promoter/enhancer of retrovirus, polyoma virus, adenovirus, simian virus 40 (SV40), and such, and a promoter/enhancer derived from mammalian cells, such as the human elongation factor 1α (HEF1α).

For example, protein expression can be easily carried out according to the method of Mulligan et al. (Nature (1979) 277, 108) when the SV40 promoter/enhancer is used, or the method of Mizushima et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. (1990) 18, 5322) when the HEF1α promoter/enhancer is employed.

When E. coli is used, proteins can be easily expressed by functionally ligating a commonly used useful promoter and signal sequence for the polypeptide secretion to a gene to be expressed. In this case, the promoter may be, for example, the lacZ promoter or the araB promoter. Protein expression may be achieved according to the method of Ward, et al. (Nature (1998)341, 544-546; FASAB J. (1992) 6, 2422-2427) when the lacZ promoter is used, or the method of Better et al. (Science (1988) 240, 1041-1043) when the araB promoter is employed.

When a protein is to be produced in the periplasm of E. coli, the pelB signal sequence (Lei, S. P. et al., J. Bacteriol. (1987) 169, 4379) may be used as a protein secretion signal.

Replication origins derived from SV40,polyoma virus, adenovirus, bovine papilloma virus (BPV) and such, can also be used. Furthermore, to amplify the gene copy number in the host cell system, expression vectors may contain genes such as an aminoglycoside transferase (APH) gene, a thymidine kinase (TK) gene, a gene encoding xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase of E. coli (Ecogpt) and a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene, as selective markers.

Any expression vector may be used to produce the protein of this invention so long as they are preferably used in this invention. Expression vectors used in this invention include those derived from mammals such as pEF and pCDM8, (those derived) from insect cells such as pBacPAK8, (those derived) from plants such as pMH1 and pMH2, (those derived) from animal viruses such as PHSV, pMV and pAdexLcw, (those derived) from retroviruses such as pZIpneo, (those derived) from yeast such as pNV11 and SP-Q01, (those derived) from Bacillus subtilus such as pPL608 and pKTH50, and (those derived) from E. coli such as pQE, pGEAPP, pGEMEAPP and pMALp2.

Expression vectors of this invention constructed as described above are transferred to host cells using known methods, for example, the calcium phosphate method (Virology (1973) 52, 456-467), the electroporation method (EMBO J. (1982) 1, 841-845), and the like.

In this invention, any production systems can be used for the protein manufacturing. For the protein production, there are in vitro and in vivo production systems. The in vitro production systems include those using eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells.

When eukaryotic cells are used, there are protein production systems using cells of animals, plants or fungi. Animal cells commonly used are mammalian cells, for example, CHO cell (J. Exp. Med. (1995) 108, 945), COS cell, myeloma cell, BHK (baby hamster kidney) cell, HeLa cell and Vero cell, amphibian cells, for example, oocytes of Xenopus laevis (Valle, et al., Nature (1981) 291, 358-340) or insect cells, for example, sf9, sf21 and Tn5 cells. Of CHO cells, especially those deficient of the DHFR gene, dhfr-CHO cell (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1980) 77, 4216-4220) and CHO K-1 cell (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1968) 60, 1275), are preferably used.

Known plant cells used for protein production are those derived from Nicotiana tabacum, which can be cultured as callus. Fungus cells commonly used include yeast, belonging to, for example, the genus Saccharomyces such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and filamentous fungus of, for example, the genus Aspergillus such as Aspergillus niger.

When prokaryotic cells are used, there are systems using bacterial cells. E. coli and Bacillus subtilis are known bacterial cells.

Proteins can be obtained by transforming these cells with the desired DNA, and culturing the thus transformed cells in vitro. Cell culturing is performed according to known methods. DMEM, MEM, RPMI1640 and IMDM can be used as the culture medium. In this case, serum supplements, such as fetal calf serum (FCS), can be used together, or the culture may be performed in a serum-free medium. The pH during cultivation is preferably in the range of about 6 to 8. Culture is usually carried out at about 30 to 40° C. for about 15 to 200 hr, with the exchange of medium, aeration and agitation as the occasion demands.

On the other hand, in vivo production systems include those using animals and plants. These animals or plants are transfected with a desired DNA to produce a protein in the body of animal or plant and the protein product is collected. “Host” in this invention includes these animals and plants.

When animals are used, there are production systems using mammals and insects. Goats, pigs, sheep, mice and cattle can be used as mammals (Vicki Glaser, SPECTRUM Biotechnology Applications, 1993). In addition, when mammals are used, transgenic animals can be also used.

For example, a desired DNA is inserted in the middle of a gene encoding a protein specifically produced in milk, such as the goat β-casein, to prepare a fusion gene. A DNA fragment containing this fusion gene inserted with the desired DNA is injected into a goat embryo, which is then implanted in the uterus of a female goat. The desired protein is obtained from the milk produced by the transgenic goat born from the goat which accepted the embryo or its offspring. To increase the yield of milk containing the protein produced by the transgenic goat, a suitable hormone may be appropriately administered to transgenic goats (Ebert, K. M. et al., Bio/Technology (1994) 12, 699-702).

In addition, insects, for example, silkworm can be used. In this case, silkworms are infected with the baculovirus inserted with a desired DNA, and the desired protein, is obtained from their body fluid (Susumu, M. et al., Nature (1985) 315, 592-594).

Furthermore, when plants are used, tobacco, for example, can be employed. In the case of use of tobacco, a desired DNA is inserted into a plant expression vector, for example, pMON 530, and this vector is then transferred into a bacterium such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A tobacco plant, for example, Nicotiana tabacum, is infected with this bacterium, from leaves of which the desired protein is obtained (Julian, K. -C. Ma et al., Eur. J. Immunol. (1994) 24, 131-138).

Proteins of this invention thus obtained can be isolated from the inside and outside of cells or hosts, and purified to essentially pure and homogeneous protein preparations. Isolation and purification of proteins can be performed using conventional isolation and purification methods for usual proteins, and are not restricted in any way. For example, proteins can be isolated and purified by appropriate selection and combination of the following tools and techniques like chromatography column, filter, ultrafiltration, salting-out, precipitation with solvent, extraction with solvent, distillation, immunoprecipitation, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, dialysis, recrystallization, etc.

Examples of chromatography include affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration, reverse-phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography, etc. (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: A Laboratory Course Manual. Ed. Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1996). These chromatographies can be carried out using liquid phase chromatography, for example, HPLC, FPLC, etc. This invention also includes proteins highly purified using these purification methods.

The optional modification to the protein or the removal of partial peptide therefrom can be performed by reacting proteins before or after the purification with the appropriate protein modification enzyme. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, lysyl endopeptidase, protein kinase and glucosidase are commonly used protein modification enzymes.

This invention also includes partial peptides of the hh00149 protein (SEQ ID NO: 2). The partial peptides include, for example, those corresponding to the binding site for other proteins, such as the 149Y2H#151 protein and PDZ protein out of partial peptide. sequences encoded by the hh00149 gene. These partial peptides can be used for the inhibition and so on of the signal transduction via the hh00149 protein.

Partial peptides of this invention can be prepared by genetic engineering techniques, known peptide synthesis method, or cleavage of the protein of this invention with a suitable peptidase. Peptide synthesis may be performed by either the solid phase or liquid phase synthesis method.

The present invention also relates to DNAs encoding the above-described proteins of this invention. DNAs of this invention are not only used for the production of proteins of this invention as described above but also may be applied to gene therapy, and such, for disorders caused by abnormalities of the gene encoding proteins of this invention.

cDNAs encoding the proteins of this invention can be obtained, for example, by screening human cDNA libraries using the probes described in this specification.

Other cDNAs can be obtained from different cells, tissues, organs or species by-further screening cDNA libraries with those cDNAs thus obtained or fragments thereof as probes. cDNA libraries may be prepared by the method described in, for example, Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), or commercially available DNA libraries may be used instead.

Furthermore, the sequencing of cDNA thus obtained-enables the determination of the translation region encoded by the cDNA and the elucidation of amino acid sequence of the protein of this invention. In addition, the genomic DNA can be isolated by screening the genomic DNA library with cDNAs thus obtained as probes.

Specifically, the following procedures may be used. First, mRNA is isolated from cells, tissues or organs expressing the protein of this invention. For the isolation of mRNA, the total RNA is prepared by known methods, for example, the guanidine ultracentrifugation method (Chirgwin, J. M. et al., Biochemistry (1979)-18, 5294-5299) the AGPC method (Chomczynski, P. and Sacchi, N., Anal. Biochem. (1987) 162, 156-159), and such, and mRNA is then purified from the total RNA using an mRNA Purification Kit (Pharmacia), etc. mRNA can be also directly prepared using a QuickPrep mRNA Purification Kit (Pharmacia).

cDNA is synthesized from mRNA thus obtained using the reverse transcriptase. Synthesis of cDNA can also be performed using an AMV Reverse Transcriptase First-strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Seikagaku Kogyo). cDNA can also be synthesized and amplified according to the 5′-RACE method (Frohman, M. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA (1988) 85, 8998-9002; Belyavsky, A. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. (1989) 17, 2919-2932) using a 5′-Ampli FINDER RACE Kit (Clontech) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with probes described, in this specification.

The desired DNA fragments are prepared from PCR products thus obtained, and ligated to a vector DNA. Then, a recombinant vector is prepared, transferred into E. coli, and such, and colonies are selected to prepare the desired recombinant vector. Base sequence of the desired DNA may be confirmed by known methods, for example, the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method.

Furthermore, the sequence for a higher expression efficiency can be designed for the DNA of this invention, considering the frequency of codon used by the host to be used for expression (Grantham, R. et al., Nucleic Acids Research (1981) 9, p43-74). DNAs of this invention can be modified using commercially available kits and known methods. For example, these modifications include the digestion with restriction enzymes, the insertion of synthetic oligonucleotides and suitable DNA fragments, the ligation of linkers, the insertion of the initiation codon (ATG) and/or termination codon (TAA, TGA or TAG), etc.

Specifically, the DNA of this invention includes DNAs encoding the protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and mutants thereof described above. A preferred DNA comprises the base sequence extending from base 466 (A) to base 2832 (C) in the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

DNAs of this invention also include DNAs which hybridize under stringent conditions to the DNA consisting of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and encoding proteins functionally equivalent to the above-described proteins of this invention.

Stringent hybridization conditions can be appropriately selected by those skilled in the art, including, for example, low stringent conditions. Low stringent conditions refer to, for example, hybridization at 42° C. and washing in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS, and preferably at 50° C. and in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. Yet more preferably, high stringent conditions may be selected. High stringent conditions refer to, for example, hybridization at 65° C. and washing in 2×SSC and 0.1% SDS. Under these conditions, as the hybridization temperature is elevated, DNA with a higher homology can be obtained. The above-described DNAs to be hybridized are preferably cDNA or chromosomal DNA.

Proteins of this invention are useful for screening compounds binding to protein. That is, the proteins are used in the method of screening for compounds that bind to the proteins of this invention, in which the method comprises bringing proteins of this invention into contact with a test sample that is expected to contain a compound to bind to the proteins and selecting a compound with the activity to bind to the proteins of this invention.

Proteins of this invention used in the screening may be any of recombinant, natural or partial peptides. Also they may be a purified protein, partial peptides thereof, or in the form of proteins expressed on the cell surface or membrane fractions.

Samples to be tested in the screening method of this invention may include, for example, peptides, purified or crude proteins, non-peptidic compounds, synthetic compounds, fermentation products of microorganisms, cell extracts, animal tissue extracts, marine creature extracts and plant extracts. Samples to be tested may be those naturally occurring or artificially synthesized.

Screening of proteins binding to the proteins of this invention can be carried out, for example, by the immunoprecipitation method. Specifically, the method can be carried out as follows. The gene encoding the protein of this invention is expressed by inserting the gene downstream of the promoter of foreign gene expression in pSV2neo, pcDNA I, pCD8, and such, and expressing the gene in animal cells, etc. Anygenerally used promoters may be employed for the expression, including the SV40 early promoter (Rigby In Williamson (ed.), Genetic Engineering, Vol. 3. Academic Press, London, p.83-141 (1982)), EF-1 a promoter.(Kim, et al. Gene 91, p. 217-223 (1990)), CAG promoter (Niwa, et al. Gene 108, p. 193-200 (1991)), RSV LTR promoter (Cullen, Methods in Enzymology 152, p.684-704 (1987)), SR α promoter (Takebe et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 8, p.466 (1988)), CMV immediate early promoter (Seed and Aruffo Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, p. 3365-3369 (1987)), SV40 late promoter (Gheysen and Fiers J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 1, p.385-³⁹4 (1982)), Adenovirus late promoter (Kaufman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, p.946 (1989)), HSV TK promoter, etc. Transfer of a foreign gene into animal cells for its expression can be performed by any of the following methods, including the electroporation method (Chu, G. et al., Nucl. Acid Res. 15, 1311-1326 (1987)), the calcium phosphate method (Chen, C. and Okayama, H. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7, 2745-2752 (1987)), the DEAE dextran method (Lopata, M. A. et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 12, 5707-5717 (1984); Sussman, D. J. and Milman, G. Mol. Cell. Biol. 4, 1642-1643 (1985)), the lipofectin method (Derijard, B. Cell. 7, 1025-1037 (1994); Lamb, B. T. et al. Nature Genetics 5, 22-30 (1993))., Rabindran, S. K. et al. Science 259, 230-234 (1993)) etc. The protein of this invention can be expressed as a fusion protein having the recognition site for a monoclonal antibody by introducing the recognition site (epitope) for a monoclonal antibody, the specificity of which has been established, into the N- or C-terminal of the protein of this invention. For this purpose, a commercial epitope-antibody system can be utilized (Jikken Igaku (Experimental Medicine) 13, 85-90 (1995)). Vectors are commercially available which are capable of expressing fusion proteins with β-galactosidase, maltose-binding protein, glutathione S-transferase, green fluorescence protein (GFP), and such, via the multi-cloning site.

To minimize the alteration in properties of the protein of this invention due to the fusion protein formation, there has been reported a method for preparing a fusion protein by introducing only a small epitope portion comprising several to ten amino acid residues. For example, the epitopes of polyhistidine (His-tag), influenza hemagglutinin (HA), human c-myc, FLAG, Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-GP), T7 gene 10 protein (T7-tag), human herpes simplex virus glycoprotein (HSV-tag), E-tag (epitope on the monoclonal phage), and such, and monoclonal antibodies to recognize these epitopes can be utilized as the epitope-antibody system for screening proteins binding to the protein of this invention. (Jikken Igaku (Experimental Medicine) 13, 85-90 (1995)).

In the immunoprecipitation, immune complexes are formed by adding these antibodies to the cell lysate prepared using suitable surfactants. This immune complex comprises a protein of this invention, a protein capable of binding to the protein, and an antibody. The immunoprecipitation can also be performed using an antibody to a protein of this invention besides antibodies to the above-described epitopes. An antibody to a protein of this invention can be prepared by inserting a gene encoding a protein of this invention into an appropriate expression vector of E. coli to express it in the bacterium, purifying the protein thus expressed, and immunizing rabbits, mice, rats, goats, chicken, and such, with the purified protein. The antibody can also be prepared by immunizing the above-described animals with partial peptides of the protein of this invention.

Immune complexes can be precipitated using, for example, Protein A Sepharose and Protein G Sepharose in case that the antibody is a murine IgG antibody. In addition, in the case where the protein of this invention is prepared as a fusion protein with the epitope of, for example, GST, and such, the immune complex can be formed using a substance that specifically binds to these epitopes, such as glutathione-Sepharose 4B, and such, giving the same result as in the case where the antibody for the protein of this invention is used.

Immune precipitation, in general, may be carried out according to, or following the method described in the literature (Harlow, E. and Lane, D.: Antibodies, pp.511-552, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory publications, New York (1988)).

SDS-PAGE is generally used for the analysis of immunoprecipitated proteins. Bound proteins can be analyzed based on the molecular weights of proteins using a gel of an appropriate concentration. In this case, although proteins bound to the protein of this invention, in general, are hardly detectable by the usual protein staining method, such as Coomassie staining and silver staining, the detection sensitivity can be improved by culturing cells in a medium containing the radio isotope-labeled ³⁵S-methionine and ³⁵S-cysteine to label proteins inside the cells, and detecting the labeled proteins. Once the molecular weight of the protein is determined, the desired protein can be purified directly from SDS-polyacrylamide gel and sequenced.

And, another embodiment of screening of this invention is exemplified by a method utilizing the 2-hybrid system using cells (Fields, S., and Sternglanz, R., Trends. Genet. (1994) 10, 286-292)

Herein, a 2-hybrid system can be used, in which (1) an expression vector containing a first DNA encoding a fusion protein, comprising the protein of this invention and one of the subunits of a heterodimeric transcriptional regulatory factor, and (2) another expression vector containing a second DNA, comprising a desired cDNA as the test sample ligated to a DNA encoding another subunit of the heterodimeric transcriptional regulatory factor, is introduced into cells, and expressed, so that when the protein encoded by the cDNA binds to the protein of this invention to allow the transcriptional regulatory factor to form a heterodimer, the reporter gene previously constructed within the cells is expressed. Alternatively, another 2-hybrid system can be used, in which a transcriptional regulatory factor, such as the yeast GAL4 protein having a DNA-binding domain and a trans-activation domain, is separated by each domain, a first expression vector containing DNA encoding the fusion protein, comprising the DNA-binding domain of the transcriptional regulatory factor and the protein of this invention, and a second expression vector, containing DNA comprising a desired cDNA as the test sample ligated to DNA encoding the trans-activation domain of the transcriptional regulatory factor, are introduced into cells and expressed, so that when the protein encoded by the cDNA binds to the protein of this invention to allow the transcriptional regulatory factor to form a heterodimer, the reporter gene previously constructed within the cells is expressed. When there is a protein capable of binding to the protein of this invention, the protein can be sorted out by detecting or measuring the expression amount of the reporter gene.

More specifically, the process may be performed as follows. That is, DNA encoding the protein of this invention is ligated to the DNA encoding the DNA-binding domain of LexA, so that they are in the same reading frame to form a first expression vector. Next, a second expressibn vector is formed by ligating a desired cDNA to the gene encoding the trans-activation domain of GAL4.

After the cells integrated with the HIS3 gene the transcription of which is regulated by the promoter having the LexA-binding motif are transformed with the above-described expression plasmids of the 2-hybrid system, they are incubated in a histidine-free synthetic medium. In this case, cell growth is observed only when the interaction between proteins occurs. Thus, an increase in the expression amount of reporter gene can be assessed by the growth extent of the transformant. Besides the HIS3 gene, the Ade2 gene, the LacZ gene, the CAT gene, the luciferase gene, and such, can be used as the reporter gene.

The 2-Hybrid system can be constructed using a conventional method, or using commercial kits instead. Commercially available 2-hybrid system kits include a MATCHMARKER Two-Hybrid System, Mammalian MATCHMAKER Two-Hybrid Assay Kit (both from CLONTECH), HybriZAP Two-Hybrid Vector System (Stratagene).

In fact, receptor-protein interactions involved in the ion channel and signal transduction having the PDZ domain have been demonstrated using the 2-bybrid system of yeast, including the binding of APC to hDLG (A. Matsumine et al. Science 272, 1020-1023 (1996)), the binding of GRIP to the AMPA receptor (H. Dong et al. Nature 386, 279-284 (1997)), the binding of Homer to the glutamate receptor (P. R. Brakeman et al. Nature 386, 284-288 (1997)), the binding of SRY to SIP-1 (F. Poulat et al. J. Biol. Chem. 272,7167-7172 (1997)), etc.

In addition, screening of proteins binding to the protein of this invention can be also performed using the West-western blotting method (Skolnik, E. Y. et al., Cell (1991) 65, 83-90). Namely, cDNA is isolated from cells, tissues and organs in which protein capable of binding to the protein of this invention is expected to be expressed, and transferred into a phage vector, for example, egtll, ZAPII, and such, to prepare a cDNA library, which is then expressed on plates coated with a growth medium. The protein thus expressed is fixed on a filter, which is then reacted with the labeled, purified protein of this invention, and plaques expressing a protein bound to the protein of this invention can be detected by the label. Methods for labeling the protein of this invention include methods utilizing the binding activity of biotin and avidin, methods utilizing antibodies specifically binding to the protein of this invention, or peptides or polypeptides fused with the protein of this invention, methods utilizing the radioisotopes, methods utilizing fluorescence, etc.

Screening for compounds which bind to the protein of this invention can be also carried out using affinity chromatography. The protein of this invention is immobilized on the carrier in the affinity chromatography column, to which a test sample, which is expected to express a protein capable of binding to the protein of this invention, is applied. After applying the test sample, the column is washed, and protein which binds to the protein of this invention can be obtained.

Compounds isolated by the above-described screening method can be candidates for drugs to stimulate or suppress the activity of the protein of this invention in disorders caused by its functional abnormalities, etc. Compounds, which are obtained by the screening method of this invention and which have the activity to bind to the protein of this invention, the partial structure of which is modified by addition, deletion and/or substitution (of amino acid residues) are also included in compounds obtained by the screening method of this invention.

When compounds obtained using the screening method of this invention are used as drugs for humans and mammals, for example, mice, rats, guineapigs, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees, they can be administered according to commonly used means.

The compounds can be administered, as the occasion demands, orally, as sugar-coated tablets, capsules, elixirs and microcapsules, or parenterally, in the form of sterile solutions in water or other pharmaceutically acceptable liquids, or suspensions for injections. For example, drugs can be manufactured by mixing substances having the activity to bind to the protein of this invention with physiologically acceptable carriers, seasonings, excipients, vehicles, anticeptics, stabilizers and binders in the unit dosage form required in a generally accepted pharmaceutical procedure. Amounts of effective ingredients in these pharmaceutical preparations are adjusted so as to obtain the appropriate dose in the specified range.

Additives which can be mixed in tablets and capsules include, for example, binders such as gelatin, corn starch, tragacanth gum and arabic gum, excipients such as crystalline cellulose, bulking agents such as corn starch, gelatin and alginic acid, lubricants such as magnesium stearate, sweetening agents such as sucrose, lactose or saccharine, and flavors such as peppermint, Gaultheria adenothrix oil or cherry. When the dispensing unit form is a capsule, liquid carriers, such as oil, can be further added to the above-described materials. Sterile compositions for injection can be prescribed using vehicles such as distilled water for injection according to standard pharmaceutical procedure.

Aqueous solutions for injections include, for example, physiological saline and isotonic solutions containing glucose and other supplements such as D-sorbitol, D-mannose, D-mannitol, sodium chloride, and such, and suitable solubilizers, for example, alcohols, more specifically, ethanol, polyalcohols such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, non-ionic surfactants such as polysorbate 80 (TM) and HCO-50 may be used together.

Oily solutions, including sesame oil and soybean oil, and benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol may be used together as the solubilizer. Injections may be combined with buffers such as phosphate buffer and sodium acetate buffer, soothing agents such as procaine hydrochloride, stabilizers such as benzyl alcohol, phenols and antioxidants. Injections thus prepared are typically filled in suitable ampules.

Though they vary depending on the symptoms, doses of compounds having the activity to bind to the protein of this invention are in the range of about 0.1 to 100 mg, preferably about 1.0 to 50 mg, and more preferably about 1.0 to 20 mg per day for adults (based on the body weight 60 kg) in the case of oral administration.

Though it varies depending on the subject to be administered, target organ, symptom and method of administration, a single dose of the compounds for the parenteral administration is preferably administered, for example, when it is in the form of injection, intravenously to normal adults (based on the body weight 60 kg) in the range of about 0.01 to 30 mg, preferably about 0.1 to 20 mg, and more preferably about 0.1 to 10 mg or thereabout per day. Doses converted on the 60 kg body weight basis can be similarly administered to other animals.

Antibodies of this invention can be obtained as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies by known means.

Antibodies specifically binding to the protein of this invention can be prepared by immunizing suitable animals with protein used as the antigen according to a usual immunization method, fusing immunocytes thus obtained with known parent cells by a usual cell fusion method, and screening antibody-producing cells by an ordinary screening method.

Specifically, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies which specifically binds to the protein of this invention may be prepared as follows.

For example, the protein of this invention used as the antigen for obtaining antibodies, though there is no limitation in animal species from which it is derived, is preferably a protein derived from mammals, for example, humans, mice or rats, especially from humans, which can be obtained using the gene sequence or amino acid sequence disclosed in the present specification.

In this invention, proteins having the biological activities of the proteins described in this specification can be used as the antigen. Partial peptides of these proteins can be also used as the antigen. These partial peptides of the protein include, for example, the amino (N)-terminal fragments and carboxyl terminal (C) fragments of the protein. “Antibody” as described in this specification means an antibody specifically reacting with the full length protein or fragments thereof.

After inserting the gene encoding the protein of this invention or fragments thereof into a known expression vector and transforming host cells described in this specification with this recombinant vector, the desired protein or fragments thereof are obtained from inside and outside host cells or from host cells by a standard method. These proteins may be used as the antigen. Cells expressing the protein or the lysate thereof, or the chemically synthesized protein of this invention may also be used as the antigen.

Although there is no limitation in species of mammals to be immunized with the antigen, it is preferable to take into consideration the compatibility with parent cells used for cell fusion, and animals of the rodent, lagomorph and primate are generally used.

For example, mice, rats, hamsters, and such, are used among the rodent animals, rabbits among lagomorphic animals, and monkeys among primate animals. Among monkeys, catarrhine monkeys (old world monkeys), for example, Macaca fascicularis, rhesus monkey, baboon, chimpanzee and such are used.

Immunization of animals with antigens is carried out according to any known method. For example, immunization in general is performed by the intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection of the antigen to mammals. Specifically, the antigen is diluted or suspended to the appropriate amount in PBS (Phosphate-Buffered Saline) or physiological saline, mixed with suitable amount of usual adjuvant, for example, Freund's complete adjuvant, as the occasion demands, emulsified, and then administered to mammals, favorably followed by several booster injections of the antigen mixed with an appropriate amount of Freund's incomplete adjuvant every 4˜21 days. In addition, suitable carriers can be used at the time of immunization with the antigen. Elevation of levels of the desired antibody in the sera of animals thus immunized is confirmed by a standard method.

Herein, polyclonal antibodies to the protein of this invention are obtained by withdrawing the blood of mammals sensitized with the antigen after confirming the elevation of levels of desired antibody in the serum, and isolating the serum from the blood by a known method. Serum containing polyclonal antibody may be used as the polyclonal antibody, or fractions containing polyclonal antibody may be further isolated from the serum as the occasion demands.

Monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by removing immunocytes from the mammals, after confirming the elevation of levels of desired antibody in the serum of mammals sensitized with the above-described antigen, and subjecting them to cell fusion. In this case, immunocytes preferably used for cell fusion are spleen cells in particular. Parent cells to be fused to the above-described immunocytes are preferably mammalian myeloma cells, more preferably myeloma cells which have acquired characteristics for the selection of fused cells by drugs.

Cell fusion of the above-described immunocytes and myeloma cells can be carried out according to a known method, for example, the method of Milstein et al. (Galfre, G. and Milstein, C., Methods Enzymol. (1981) 73, 3-46), etc.

Hybridomas thus obtained by cell fusion are selected by culturing them in a standard selection medium, for example, the HAT culture medium (culture solution containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine). Culturing in the HAT medium is continued for a sufficient time required for killing other cells (non-fused cells) than desired hybridomas, usually for several days to several weeks. Then, a usual limiting culture-dilution method is applied for carrying out screening and cloning of hybridomas producing the desired antibody.

In addition to the above-described hybridomas obtained by immunizing animals other than humans with the antigen, human lymphocytes, for example, human lymphocytes infected with the EB virus, are sensitized with a protein, protein expressing cells or lysates thereof in vitro, and the sensitized lymphocytes are fused with human-derived myeloma cells having a permanent proliferation potency, for example, U266 cells, to obtain hybtidomas capable of producing the desired human antibody having the activity to bind to the protein (Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application No. Sho. 63-17688).

Furthermore, human antibodies against a protein may be obtained by immunizing transgenic animals having a repertoire of human antibody genes with an antigenic protein, cells expressing the protein or lysate thereof, to obtain antibody-producing cells, and fusing these cells to myeloma cells to prepare hybridonmas, which are used to obtain human antibody against the protein (cf. International Patent Application Nos. WO92-03918, WO93-2227, WO94-02602, WO94-25585, WO96-33735 and WO96-34096).

Besides the production of antibody using hybridoma, immunocytes, such as sensitized lymphocytes, and such, producing antibody which is immortalized with oncogenes may be used for the antibody production.

Monoclonal antibodies thus obtained can be also prepared as a recombinant antibody, using genetic recombination techniques (cf., for example, Borrebaeck, C. A. K. and Larrick, J. W., THERAPEUTIC MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, Published in the United Kingdom by MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS LTD, 1990). A recombinant antibody is produced by cloning DNA encoding the protein from hybridoma or immunocytes such as sensitized lymphocytes producing the antibody, incorporating the DNA into appropriate vector, and transferring the vector into host cells. This recombinant antibody is also included in this invention.

Antibodies of this invention may also include fragments and modified products of the antibody, so long as they are capable of binding to the protein of this invention. For example, the antibody fragments include Fab, F(ab′) 2, Fv or a single-chained Fv (scFv) prepared by linking the H-chain to the Fv of L-chain via a suitable linker (Huston, J. S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1988) 85, 5879-5883). Specifically, antibody fragments are produced by digesting the antibody with enzymes, for example, papain or pepsin, or by constructing a gene encoding these fragments, inserting the gene into an expression vector, and expressing it in suitable host cells (cf., for example, Co, M. S. et al., J. Immunol. (1994) 152, 2968-2976; Better, M. and Horwitz, A. H., Methods Enzymol. (1989) 178, 476-496; Pluckthun, A. and Skerra, A., Methods Enzymol. (1989) 178., 497-515; Lamoyi, E., Methods Enymol. (1986) 121, 652-663; Rousseaux, J. et al., Methods Enzymol. (1986) 121, 663-669; Bird, R. E. and Walker, B. W., Trends Biotechnol. (1991) 9, 132-137).

Antibody bound to various molecules, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), and such, can be also used as the modified antibody. The “antibody” of this invention also includes these modified antibodies. These modified antibodies can be prepared by chemically modifying the antibody obtained as above. These modification methods have been already established in this field.

In addition, the antibody of this invention can be obtained, using known techniques, as a chimeric antibody comprising the variable region derived from a non-human antibody and the constant region derived from a human antibody, or a humanized antibody comprising the CDR (complementary-determining region) derived from a non-human antibody, the FR (framework region) and the constant region derived from a human antibody.

Antibodies obtained as described above can be purified to homogeneity. For the isolation and purification of the antibody used in this invention, any methods of isolation and purification used for ordinary proteins can be applied without limitation. Concentration of the antibody obtained as described above can be determined by the measurement of absorbance or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), etc.

Furthermore, ELISA, EIA (enzyme immunoassay), RIA (radioimmunoassay) or fluorescent antibody technique can be used as the methods for measuring the antigen-binding activity of the antibody of this invention. For example, when ELISA is used, the protein of this invention is added to plates on which the antibody of this invention has been immobilized, and then a sample containing the desired antibody, for example, the culture supernatant of antibody-producing cells or purified antibody is added to the plates. A secondary antibody labeled with an enzyme, for example, alkaline phosphatase and such, to recognize the antibody is added to the plates. After incubating and washing the plates, the enzyme substrate such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate, and such, is added to measure the absorbance, so that the antigen-binding activity can be assessed. In place of a whole protein, its fragments, for example, fragments comprising its C-terminal or N-terminal, may be used. For the activity assay of the antibody of this invention, BIAcore (Pharmacia) can be used.

A method for detecting and measuring the protein of this invention can be carried out by using these techniques, the method comprising bringing the antibody of this invention into contact with a sample which is expected to contain the protein of this invention, and detecting or measuring an immune complex consisting of the antibody and the protein.

Since the method of this invention for detecting or measuring proteins is capable of selectively detecting or measuring proteins, it is useful for various experiments and such, using proteins.

The present invention includes polynucleotides hybridizing to a DNA comprising a base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a DNA complementary to the DNA, and consisting of at least 15 bases. That is, this invention includes probes, nucleotides or nucleotide derivatives, for example, antisense-oligonucleotides, ribozymes, and such, which are capable of selectively hybridizing to a DNA encoding the protein of this invention or a DNA complementary to the DNA.

This invention includes an antisense oligonucleotide, for example, hybridizing to any site of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. This is preferably an antisense oligonucleotide to a nucleotide comprising at least 15 or more consecutive nucleotides in the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. More preferably, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least 15 or more consecutive bases containing the translation initiation codon.

Derivatives and modified products of antisense oligonucleotides can be used as the antisense oligonucleotide. Such modified products include those modified with low alkyl phosphonates, such as the methyl phosphonate type and ethyl phosphonate type, those modified with phosphorothionate or phosphoroamidate, etc.

Herein, “antisense oligonucleotide” includes not only nucleotides corresponding to those constituting a predetermined region of a DNA or mRNA of which are all complementary to the DNA or mRNA, but also nucleotides having one or a plurality of mismatched nucleotides so far as they can selectively as well as stably hybridize to the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Herein, the phrase “selectively and stably hybridize” means that a DNA does not significantly cross-hybridize to other DNAs encoding other proteins under usual hybridization conditions, preferably under a stringent hybridization conditions. Such a polynucleotide refers to the one which has a base sequence of at least 15 consecutive nucleotides, and has at least 70% or more, preferably at least 80% or more, more preferably at least 90% or more, and further more preferably at least 95% or more of base sequence identity to a nucleotide to be hybridized. Algorithms described in this specification can be used to determine the sequence homology. Such polynucleotides are useful, as described below in examples, as probes for detecting or isolating a DNA encoding the protein of this invention or as primer for amplifying the DNA.

Derivatives of antisense oligonucleotides of this invention have a suppressive effect on the action of the proteins of this invention resulting from the repression of the expression of the protein caused by their action on cells producing the protein of this invention and binding to DNA or mRNA encoding the protein to suppress the transcription or translation thereof or enhance the decomposition of mRNA.

Derivatives of antisense oligonucleotides of this invention can be mixed with appropriate bases inert to them to prepare the external preparation such as salve, cataplasm, etc.

In addition, as the occasion demands, excipients, isotonicity agents, solubilizers, stabilizers, antiseptics, soothing agents, and such, are added to the above-described derivatives to prepare tablets, powder agents, granules, capsules, liposome capsules, injection agents, liquid preparations, nasal drops, and such, and further lyophilized preparations. They can be prepared according to a standard method.

Derivatives of antisense oligonucleotides of this invention are either directly applied to the affected region of patient or intravascularly administered, for example, to patient, so that they can eventually reach the affected region. Furthermore, antisense nucleotide enclosing materials can be used to enhance the durability or membrane permeability, including liposome, poly-L-lysine, lipid, cholesterol, lipofectin, or derivatives thereof.

Doses of derivatives of antisense oligonucleotides of this invention can be appropriately adjusted according to the conditions of patients, and used in preferable amounts. For example, they can be administered in the range 0.1˜100 mg/kg, preferably 0.1˜50 mg/kg.

The antisense oligonucleotides of this invention inhibit the expression of the protein of this invention and, thus, are useful for suppressing its biological activities. Expression inhibitors comprising antisense oligonucleotides of this invention are useful in that they can suppress biological activities of the protein of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a photograph showing the results of Northern blot analysis of the hh00149 gene.

“H” in the figure represents the results of detection obtained using Human MTN Blot (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7760-1), showing 1. heart, 2. brain, 3. placenta, 4. lung,. 5. liver, 6. skeletal muscle, 7. kidney. and 8. Pancreas.“H4” represents the results of detection obtained using Human MTN Blot IV (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7766-1), showing 1. spleen, 2. thymus, 3. prostate, 4. testis, 5. uterus, 6. small intestine, 7. colon and 8. peripheral lymphocyte.

“F” represents the results of detection using Human Fetal MTN Blot II (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7756-1), showing 1. fetal brain, 2. fetal lung, 3. fetal liver and 4. fetal kidney.

“C” represents the results of detection using Human Cancer Cell Line MTN Blot II (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7757-1), showing 1. acute leukemia HL-60 cell, 2. HeLa cell S3, 3. chronic myelocytic leukemia K-562 cell, 4. lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cell, 5. Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cell, 6. colorectal adenocarcinoma SW-480 cell, 7. lung cancer A549 cell and 8. melanoma G361 cell, respectively.

“B2” represents the results of detection using Human Brain MTN Blot II (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7755-1), showing 1. cerebellum, 2. cerebral cortex, 3. medulla oblongata, 4. spinal cord, 5. occipital lobe, 6. frontal lobe, 7. temporal lobe and 8. putamen, respectively.

“B4” represents the results of detection using Human Brain MTN Blot IV (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 7769-1), 1. cerebellar tonsil, 2. caudatum, 3. corpus callosum, 4. hippocampus, 5. whole brain, 6. nigra and 7. thalamus.

FIG. 2 represents photographs showing the results of RT-PCR. The first strand cDNAs used were 32 in total, derived from 1. brain, 2. heart, 3. kidney, 4. liver, 5. lung, 6. pancreas, 7. placenta, 8. skeletal muscle, 9. large intestine, 10. ovary, 11. peripheral lymphocyte, 12. prostate, 13. small intestine, 14. spleen, 15. testis, 16. thymus, 17. fetal brain, 18. fetal heart, 19. fetal kidney, 20. fetal liver, 21. fetal lung, 22. fetal skeletal muscle, 23. fetal spleen, 24. fetal thymus, 25. breast carcinoma (GI-101), 26. lung carcinoma (LX-1), 27. colon adenocarcinoma (CX-1), 28. lung carcinoma (GI-117), 29. prostatic adenocrcinoma (PC-3), 30. colon adenocarcinoma (GI-112), 31. ovarian carconoma (GI-102) and 32. pancreatic adenocarcinoma (GI-103). (CLONTECH, catalogue Nos. K1420-1, K1421-1, K1425-1, and K1422-1). Results of RT-PCR for detecting the hh-00149 gene and G3PDH gene (control) are indicated above and below, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an expected structure of the hh00149 protein. In this figure, the diamond-shaped mark represents a hydrophobic region, and oval-shaped mark a hydrophilic region, respectively.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is described below in more detail with reference to examples, but is not construed as being limited thereto.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction of Library of Size-Fractionated Human Brain cDNAs

cDNAs were constructed according to the method of Ohara (DNA Research 4, 53-59 (1997)). Specifically, double-stranded cDNAs were synthesized from Human poly A+ RNA whole brain (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 6516-1) using the SuperScript II reverse transcriptase (GibcoBRL, catalogue No. 18064-014) with a (dT) 15 primer having the Not I site at the 5′ terminal end (GACTAGTTCT AGATCGCGAG CGGCCGCCCT TTTTTTTTTT TTTT/SEQ ID NO: 3) according to the manual. cDNAs thus obtained were digested with the restriction enzyme Not I, and then ligated to the Sal I adaptors. Sal I adaptors used are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 5′-TCGACCCACGCGTCCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4) 3′-GGGTGCGCAGGC_(P)-5′ (SEQ ID NO: 5) cDNAs shorter than 3 kb were removed by electrophoresis on 1% low-melting point agarose gel, and cDNA fragments larger than 3 kb in size were ligated to the pBluescript II SK+ (STRATAGENE, catalogue No. 212205) which had been digested with Not I and Sal I, and then transferred into ElectroMax DH10B™ cells (GibcoBRL, catalogue No: 18290-015) by electroporation according to the manual. Plasmid DNAs were extracted from the independent 8×10⁶ colonies obtained as the ampicillin-resistant colonies on agar plates by the standard alkali/SDS cytolysis method. A majority of plasmid DNAs thus obtained are the closed circular DNAs, so that their sizes fractionated by electrophoresis reflect the sizes of inserted cDNAs. Therefore, plasmid DNAs which were separated into 10 fractions on 1% agarose gel correspond to fractions separated by the size of cDNAs. Each of these fractions was separately transferred again into E. coli, and plasmids were extracted from 1×10⁶ colonies or more per each fraction. In this case, the transformed E. coli was cultured on shaking in LB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin for 3 hr. Plasmids thus extracted were confirmed of their sizes by electrophoresis, and the size. selection was repeated at least twice for plasmids of 8 kb or less in size, and three times for the cDNA inserts of 8 kb or more in size to construct libraries of cDNAs fractionated by size.

EXAMPLE 2 Cloning of hh00149 Gene

Plasmid DNA was extracted from the above-described library of fractionated cDNAs, and sequenced. Plasmid DNA was extracted using the PI-100 automatic plasmid DNA extraction apparatus (Kurabo). The dye-primer cycle sequencing reaction was automatically performed by the CATALYST Turbo (Perkin-Elmer) using the ABI PRISM™ cycle-sequencing kit (Perkin-Elmer). Reaction products were electrophoresed using either ABI373A or ABI377 DNA sequencer, analyzed by the ABI sequence analysis system, INHERIT. cDNA inserts were sequenced from both terminals using the Dye-labeled M13 forward primer (Perkin-Elmer) and reverse primer (Perkin-Elmer). Furthermore, the entire base sequence of cDNA was determined using the shotgun method. The hh00149 gene was sequenced as one of the clones. The base sequence and putative amino acid sequence of hh00149 are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, respectively.

EXAMPLE 3 Chromosome Mapping

The locus of hh00149 gene was mapped on chromosomes using the Gene Bridge 4 Radiation Hybrid Panel (Research Genetics, Inc.). The 10×KOD dash buffer (2 μl), 2.5 mM dNTP (1.6 μl), 10 μM primer 149-2867 (CAGGGTGGGA GAAGGGGAAA GAATC/SEQ ID NO: 6) (0.8 μl), 10 μM primer 149-2944 (GAGGCCATTG ACAGGGAGAC GAAAC/SEQ ID NO: 7) (0.8 μl) sterilized water (13.4 μl) and KOD dash DNA polymerase (TOYOBO #LDP-101) (0.4 μl) were mixed, warmed at 94° C. for 5 min, and then subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 40 repeated cycles of 98° C. for 10 sec, 60° C. for 2 sec and 74° C. for 10 sec to amplify the gene. The results were analyzed using the analysis software downloaded from the World Wide Web (http://www.sph.umich.edu/group/statgen/software). As a result, the hh00149 gene was mapped 3.2 cR from the landmark WI-4142 on chromosome 6.

EXAMPLE 4 Tissue Specificity of hh00149 gene Expression by Northern Blot Analysis

Northern blot analysis was performed according to the usual method, using the MTN Blot (CLONTECH, catalogue Nos.: 7760-1, 7766-1, 7756-1, 7757-1, 7755-1 and 7769-1) with an Nco I fragment (corresponding to bases 948 to 1574 in SEQ ID NO: 1) (25 ng) which had been labeled with [αa-³²P] dCTP using the Megaprime DNA labelling kit (Amersham, catalogue No. RPN1607) to serve as a probe. Prehybridization was carried out in the ExpressHyb Hybridization Solution (CLONTECH, catalogue No. 8015-2) (20 ml) at. 68° C. for 30 min, and then hybridization was performed with the above-described labeled probe (2×10⁷ cpm) similarly in the ExpressHyb Hybridization Solution (20 ml) (1×10⁶ cpm/ml) at 68° C. for 1 hr. The filter was washed three times at room temperature for 10 min each using 2×SSC (0.3 M NaCl and 0.03 M sodium citrate (pH 7.0))/0.05% SDS) followed by further washing twice in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 50° C. for 15 min. Then a FUJI Imaging plate (Fuji film) was exposed to the filter overnight, and analyzed using the FUJI BAS2000 (Fuji Film). As a result, a transcription product of 3.2 kb was specifically detected in the brain, and found to be strongly expressed, as the result of analysis using the Human Brain MTN Blot II (catalogue No.: 7755-1)and Human Brain MTN Blot IV ( catalogue No.:7769-1), in the cerebral cortex, occipital lobe, frontal lobe and temporal lobe, and also to be expressed in the cerebellum, putamen and cerebellar tonsil. Besides the brain, its expression was confirmed also in the spleen, testis and lung cancer A549 cells (FIG. 1).

EXAMPLE 5 RT-PCR Analysis of Tissue Specificity of hh00149 Gene Expression

The expression amount of mRNA in 32 different tissues including those which had been analyzed by Northern blot was compared by RT-PCR to analyze the tissue specificity of the hh00149 gene expression. cDNAs used were the Human MTC Panel I (K1402-1), Human MTC Panel II (K1421-1), Human Fetal MTC Panel I (K1425-1) and Human Tumor MTC Panel I (K1422-1) commercially available from CLONTECH. The 10×KOD dash buffer (2 μl), 2.5 mM dNTP (1.6 μl), 10 μM primer 149-2867.(CAGGGTGGGA GAAGGGGAAA GAATC/SEQ ID NO: 6) (0.8 μl), 10 μM primer 149-2944 (GAGGCCATTG ACAGGGAGAC GAAAC/SEQ ID NO: 7) (0.8 μl), sterilized water (13.4 μl) and KOD dash DNA polymerase (TOYOBO #LDP-101) (0.4 μl) were mixed, warmed at 94° C. for 5 min, and then subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 30 repeated cycles of 98° C. for 10 sec, 60° C. for 2 sec and 74° C. for 10 sec. The results are shown in FIG. 2. Considerable high level of the gene expression was detected in the adult and fetal brains. The gene expression was also detected in the testis, spleen and ovary, but in no other tissues.

EXAMPLE 6 Prediction of hh00149 Protein Structure

The structure of the hh00149 protein was predicted using “peptide structure” and “pepplot” of the GCG Sequence Analysis Software Package (Genetic Computer Group, Oxford Molecular Group, Inc.) (FIG. 3). As a result, the amino acid sequence at the amino terminal (amino acids 1 to 20) and that (amino acids 527 to 557) are abundant in hydrophobicity, the former of which is thought to function as the signal sequence, and the latter as the transmembrane region.

Industrial Applicability

Since the membrane protein of this invention is indicated to function as a signal transducer molecule from outside to inside the cell in the brain, the membrane protein and the gene thereof are expected to be used for screening novel signal transducing substances, including neuropeptides. The membrane protein of this invention and gene thereof are expected to be applied in the development of novel remedies and diagnostics for nerve-related disorders. 

1. A nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. A nucleic acid comprising the coding region of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. A nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 which is modified by deletion and/or addition of one or more amino acid residues, and/or substitution with other amino acids, wherein the polypeptide is functionally equivalent to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 4. A nucleic acid that hybridizes to a nucleic acid consisting of the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement thereof.
 5. A nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 fused to another amino acid sequence.
 6. The nucleic acid of claim 5, wherein the other amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of FLAG, 6 histidine residues, 10 histidine residues, influenza hemagglutinin, human c-myc fragment, VSV-GP fragment, pl8HIV fragment, T7-tag, HSV-tag, E-tag, SV40 antigen fragment, lck tag, α-tubulin fragment, B-tag, protein C fragment, glutathione-S-transferase, immunoglobulin constant region, β-galactosidase, green fluorescent protein, and maltose-binding protein.
 7. A nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising amino acids 21 to 789 of SEQ ID NO:2 fused to another amino acid sequence.
 8. The nucleic acid of claim 7, wherein the other amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of FLAG, 6 histidine residues, 10 histidine residues, influenza hemagglutinin, human c-myc fragment, VSV-GP fragment, pl8HIV fragment, T7-tag, HSV-tag, E-tag, SV40 antigen fragment, lck tag, α-tubulin fragment, B-tag, protein C fragment, glutathione-S-transferase, immunoglobulin constant region, β-galactosidase, green fluorescent protein, and maltose-binding protein.
 9. A polynucleotide comprising at least 15 bases that hybridizes to a nucleic acid consisting of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a complementary strand thereof.
 10. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 1 inserted therein.
 11. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 2 inserted therein.
 12. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 3 inserted therein.
 13. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 4 inserted therein.
 14. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 5 inserted therein.
 15. A vector having the nucleic acid of claim 7 inserted therein.
 16. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 1. 17. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 2. 18. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 3. 19. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 4. 20. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 5. 21. A transformant carrying the nucleic acid of claim
 7. 22. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 16 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof.
 23. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 17 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof.
 24. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 18 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof.
 25. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 19 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof.
 26. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 20 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof.
 27. A method for producing a protein, said method comprising the steps of culturing the transformant of claim 21 and recovering the expressed protein from said transformant or the culture supernatant thereof. 